Maryland Saddlery's Guide to Choosing and Fitting Saddles Issue 1 | Page 12

Why Horses Backs Get Sore SADDLE TREE IS TOO NARROW A saddle that is too narrow will sit too high up just behind a horses withers. the front of the saddle tree called the points will dig into the horses back instead of gently laying along side of it. Sometimes riders solve the balance problem with lift pads. This however does not solve the incorrect fit of the tree. The narrowness of the tree may also occur in a too narrow gullet channel. A horse’s spine can be as wide as 4-5 of your finger across. The saddle that is comfortable for the horse must have enough width to bridge over the horses spine and ligaments. You can see the discomfort when the horse is bending around a corner. They may hollow out their back and lift their head. SADDLE TREE IS TOO WIDE A saddle that is too wide generally will be leaning forward. The rider may feel pitched to the front. The pommel may rest on the horses spine and cause tremendous damage to nerves and muscles and ligaments. Propping the front of the saddle up with shims or pommel pads is not always successful. IMPROPER SADDLE PAD Saddle pads can also cause a horse to experience back pain. Pads that bunch and cause pressure points or pads that pull down and bridge against the horses withers may also cause permanent damage to a horse back. Dirty saddle pads may also a horse to feel pressure points. SADDLE IS TOO SMALL FOR THE RIDER If a rider is sitting too far back in a saddle the pressure on the end of the saddle panels may cause extensive damage to a horses back. Saddles are designed to lift off the back of a horse to relieve the downward pressure of the rider. If the rider is sitting in the sweet spot where the saddle is designed to sit them and they are riding in the proper size saddle generally, a horse will not get sore. Providing that the tree is correct fit as well. THE INCORRECT BIT Horses that are improperly bitted my get sore backs. The reason for this is that when a horse exhibits discomfort with his bit by raising up his head they hollow out their backs. The higher their head the more their backs are tightened. This causes their hind end to fall out behind. They loose the ability to go round through their back engaging the muscles that would protect their back from the concussion of the rider. ©Maryland Saddlery, Inc.